Background:
- Sodium fluoride (NaF) is a common compound that is found in various foods and can be used
to increase bone strength. When this compound is added to a small dose of radiation (F-18),
it collects in the bones, with higher amounts in areas where the bone is rapidly changing,
such as the site of a healing fracture or a tumor. By giving F-18 NaF before a combined
positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) scan, researchers hope to be able
to better measure the changes in the bone that may indicate that a certain type of cancer
(such as prostate cancer) has spread to the bones.
Objectives:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of F-18 NaF in imaging studies to measure bone tumors and
their change over time and compare with clinical course, in individuals with prostate
cancer.
- To determine the smallest amount of change in the bone tumors that F-18 NaF can
accurately measure.
Eligibility:
- Men at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and have had
imaging studies to determine whether the cancer has spread to their bones. Both patients with
and without known bone involvement will be enrolled.
Design:
- Participants will be screened with a physical examination, medical history, and imaging
studies, and will provide baseline blood samples to evaluate kidney function.
- For the study, participants will have two F-18 NaF PET/CT scans on separate days for
baseline. These repeat scans will be used to determine the amount of change that is due
to the imaging process alone (i.e. not due to the disease getting better or worse.
Participants will receive a dose of F-18 NaF intravenously, and will have PET/CT
scanning over the body (mid ear to upper thighs) over 1 hour, the body followed by a
complete whole-body PET/CT scan at approximately 2 hours after F-18 NaF injection.
Participants will be watched closely for side effects from the F-18 NaF until the scans
are done, and will be asked to drink plenty of water to void the F-18 NaF from the body
after the scans.
- As a followup study, participants will have two more F-18 NaF PET/CT scans, one 4 to 8
months after the first scans and then one 10 to 14 months after the first scans.
Participants will provide additional blood samples before the followup scans.